Sofa bed

ABSTRACT

A sofa bed formed of two rectangular blocks of foam hingedly connected together by the covering and readily convertible from a sofa to a single bed or double bed as desired.

Unified Stafies Patent 11 1 Powell [4 1 June 26, 1973 [5 SOFA BED 3,555,581 1/1971 [75] Inventor: Lynn L. Powell, Lincolnton, NC. [73] Assignee: Bun-is Industries, Incorporated, 3'469882 9/1969 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [22] Flled 1972 673,547 11/1964 Italy 51345 R [21] Appl. No.: 224,772

Primary ExaminerCasmir A. Nunberg 52 us. 01 5/12 R, 5/28, 5/344, ArwmeyD0nald Seltzer 5/357 [51] Int. Cl A47c 17/14, A470 27/22 581 Field of Search 297/445, 452, 456459, ABSTRACT 297/DIG' 2; 5/344 A sofa bed formed of two rectangular blocks of foam hingedly connected together by the covering and 5 6] References Cited readily convertible from a sofa to a single bed or double bed as desired. UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,060,460 10/1962 Broyles 5/18 R 8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures SOFA BED This invention relates to a simplified construction of a sofa bed wherein two rectangular blocks of foam are normally positioned in overlying relationship with the lowermost block of foam resting on a floor and pillows are restingly positioned on the uppermost block of foam for use as a sofa. With removal of the pillows the sofa is readily usable as a single bed. For permitting conversion of the single bed to a double bed, portions of the covering for the blocks of foam serve to define a hinge connection between the blocks of foam to readily permit the uppermost block of foam to be pivotally moved into side by side relationship resting on the floor beside the lowermost block of foam.

It is, therefore, the primary object of this invention to provide a simplified inexpensive construction for a piece of furniture which is readily converted from a sofa to a single bed or double bed as desired.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention shown in position for use as a sofa;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the invention for use as a single bed and wherein the pillows shown in FIG. 1 have been removed;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the invention for use as a double bed and wherein the blocks of foam have been moved to side by side relation resting on a floor;

FIG. 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale of the rectangular area 5 of FIG. 4 illustrating the hinged connection between the blocks of foam; and

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along lines 66 of FIG. 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, reference numerals l and 11 designate substantially equally dimensioned blocks of soft resilient foam each of a rectangular size corresponding to a single bed. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the blocks of foam l0 and 11 are positioned in overlying relation with a pair of back pillows 12 and end pillow 13 shown as resting on the uppermost block of foam 11 for forming a sofa.

Serving as an upholstery for the blocks of foam 10 and 11 is a fabric covering 20, said covering including an auxiliary fabric portion 20a provided with an underlying reinforcing fabric strip 200 collectively serving to define a reinforced hinged connection 20b hingedly connecting the blocks of foam together. It will be noted that the auxiliary covering material 20a and fabric strip 20c, are positioned inwardly from opposite ends of the blocks of foamso that the terminal ends of the hinged connection 20b defined thereby are correspondingly spaced inwardly from the ends of the blocks of foam. It has been determined that this arrangement facilitates movement of the uppermost block of foam 11 to a side by side relation with the lower block of foam, without rupturing the covering material. In this connection, normally the uppermost block of foam will be grasped at a rear corner portion thereof for movement from the position shown in FIG. 2 to that of FIG. 3, bearing in mind that the backside of the blocks of foam will normally be positioned against a wall. Further, the appearance from the ends of the sofa is enhanced by having the terminal ends of the hinged connection 20b spaced inwardly.

As an optional feature of the invention, the central upper portion of the uppermost block of foam 11, as best illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6, is provided with a relatively shallow recess 30 therein in which a soft fibrous material 40 is positioned for enhanced seating comfort when the invention is used as a sofa. Such fibrous material may be any suitable textile material and is desirably Dacron material. As illustrated, the fibrous material filling the recess 30 is provided with a suitable covering 40a with a plurality of spaced fasteners 41 extending through the fibrous material to compress the same at localized areas for added stability thereof, that is, to prevent shifting of the fibrous material and to also present a pleasing quilted effect thereto.

Referring now to the nature of the blocks of foam 10 and l l, as illustrated, each of the blocks of foam is integrally formed of a cellular foam material such as polyether foam having substantially uniform density throughout. Also, each of the blocks of foam l0 and 11 hasa thickness of at least about eight inches so that one sitting on the sofa of the invention will be comfortably disposed, bearing in mind that the lowermost block of foam is resting on the floor.

From the foregoing description, it is believed to be evident that a very simplified inexpensive sofa bed has been disclosed which has the versatility for use as a sofa, single bed or double bed as desired.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

That which is claimed is:

l. A sofa bed comprising a pair of substantially equally dimensioned blocks of soft resilient foam each of a rectangular size corresponding to a single bed and each having a thickness of at least about eight inches and normally positioned in overlying relation for forming a sofa of normal seating height with the underlying block resting on a floor, and a covering separately covering each block of foam and hingedly connecting the blocks of foam together along corresponding side edges so that the blocks of foam may be positioned in side by side relation for forming a double bed with both blocks of foam resting on the floor.

2. A sofa bed according to claim 1 wherein each of the blocks of foam is integral and of substantially uniform density throughout.

3. A sofa bed according to claim 1 wherein pillows rest upon the uppermost block of foam and form a backrest.

4. A sofa bed according to claim 1 wherein said covering hingedly connects thepair of blocks together so that the terminal ends of the hinged connection are spaced inwardly from the ends of the pair of blocks of foam for facilitating movement of the blocks of foam from an overlying relation to a side by side relation without rupturing the covering hingedly connecting the same together.

5. A sofa bed according to claim 1, wherein the central upper portion of the uppermost block of foam, which serves as the seat for the sofa, has a relatively shallow recess therein, and soft fibrous material filling said recess for enhanced seating comfort.

6. A sofa bed according to claim 5 wherein, a plurality of spaced fasteners extend through said fibrous material to compress the same at localized areas for added stability thereof and to present a quilted effect thereto.

7. A sofa bed comprising a pair of substantially equally dimensioned blocks of soft resilient foam each of a rectangular size corresponding to a single bed and sponding side edges so that the blocks of foam may be positioned in side by side relation for forming a double bed with both blocks of foam resting on the floor, said covering hingedly connecting said blocks of foam together so that the terminal ends of the hinged connection are spaced inwardly from the ends of the blocks of foam.

8. A sofa bed according to claim 7 wherein the central upper portion of the uppermost block of foam, which serves as the seat for the sofa; has a relatively shallow recess therein, and soft fibrous material filling said recess for enhanced seating comfort. 

1. A sofa bed comprising a pair of substantially equally dimensioned blocks of soft resilient foam each of a rectangular size corresponding to a single bed and each having a thickness of at least about eight inches and normally positioned in overlying relation for forming a sofa of normal seating height with the underlying block resting on a floor, and a covering separately covering each block of foam and hingedly connecting the blocks of foam together along corresponding side edges so that the blocks of foam may be positioned in side by side relation for forming a double bed with both blocks of foam resting on the floor.
 2. A sofa bed according to claim 1 wherein each of the blocks of foam is integral and of substantially uniform density throughout.
 3. A sofa bed according to claim 1 wherein pillows rest upon the uppermost block of foam and form a backrest.
 4. A sofa bed according to claim 1 wherein said covering hingedly connects the pair of blocks together so that the terminal ends of the hinged connection are spaced inwardly from the ends of the pair of blocks of foam for facilitating movement of the blocks of foam from an overlying relation to a side by side relation without rupturing the covering hingedly connecting the same together.
 5. A sofa bed according to claim 1, wherein the central upper portion of the uppermost block of foam, which serves as the seat for the sofa, has a relatively shallow recess therein, and soft fibrous material filling said recess for enhanced seating comfort.
 6. A sofa bed according to claim 5 wherein, a plurality of spaced fasteners extend through said fibrous material to compress the same at localized areas for added stability thereof and to present a quilted effect thereto.
 7. A sofa bed comprising a pair of substantially equally dimensioned blocks of soft resilient foam each of a rectangular size corresponding to a single bed and normally positioned in overlying relation for forming a sofa with the undErlying block resting on a floor, each of said blocks of foam being integral and of substantial uniform foam density throughout and also having a thickness of at least about eight inches, and a covering separately covering each block of foam and hingedly connecting the blocks of foam together along corresponding side edges so that the blocks of foam may be positioned in side by side relation for forming a double bed with both blocks of foam resting on the floor, said covering hingedly connecting said blocks of foam together so that the terminal ends of the hinged connection are spaced inwardly from the ends of the blocks of foam.
 8. A sofa bed according to claim 7 wherein the central upper portion of the uppermost block of foam, which serves as the seat for the sofa; has a relatively shallow recess therein, and soft fibrous material filling said recess for enhanced seating comfort. 